Nuvali Eco Community hosts adventure racing

MANILA, Philippines - Outdoor adventure racing returns to the local sports scene on Sept. 11 when the third Columbia Trail Masters Greater Outdoor Challenge is held at the Nuvali Eco Community in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

“We believe that the time is ripe for our outdoor athletes and adventurers to rise up to the next level and face new challenges,” said Columbia brand manager Tiffany Batungbacal in yesterday’s PSA forum at the UN Shakey’s Avenue branch in Manila.

“The Columbia Trail Masters Greater Outdoor Challenge is an ideal vehicle to try and test their mettle amidst a lush and picturesque landscape,” said Batungbacal of the competition that combines trail running, off road cycling, rappelling and racing through a muddy course.

Adrenaline Multisports group chief and race director Thumbie Remigio, who joined Batungbacal in the session, stressed that the event is “not a novelty race but a serious contest of strength, stamina and endurance as participants go through all its four stages, but all in the spirit of fun and adventure.”

Batungbacal said that there will be a 60-km distance for elite contestants in both men’s and women’s divisions and a 40-kilometer competition open to a team of two participants each in the men’s and mixed divisions. 

She said the challenge in the Elite division will begin with the run wild 10-km obstacle course, followed by a 10-km bike race, 10-km run, a 25-km combination of bike and rappel and lastly, another 5-km run wild obstacle course.

The team category will be comprised of an 8-km combination of the run wild obstacles and rappel, as well as a 20-km bike race ending with another run wild obstacle course of 5-km.

“This event also allows us to showcase Columbia’s light, comfortable, durable and quality outdoor sports wear and gear,” she said of the apparel and footwear made by one of the USA’s pioneering and leading firms in the outdoor industry since 1938.

Both guests thanked Nuvali for serving as the main site and take-off point of the event backed by BDO, Cebu Pacific, Onesport, Total Fitness, Res|Toe|Run and ROX.

The champion in the men’s and women’s division in the 60-km elite event will get P15,000 cash and P5,000 worth of Columbia gift certificates apiece, while the winning team in the same men’s and mixed divisions of the 40-km contest will likewise get P15,000 cash and P5,000 in Columbia gift checks. 

Registration fee for the 60-km elite competition is at P1,200 and the field will be limited to 300 participants while registration for the 40-km event is at P1,800 per team.

Participants can register at any Columbia Sportswear branch (SM Mall of Asia, Megamall, Greenbelt 5, SM Annex North Edsa, Gateway Mall, Festival Supermall, SM City Cebu, SM Baguio and Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro).

They may also register at the ROX Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City.